Taking your holidays on the French Riviera?
Whether with your family or friends, come discover the walks that will introduce you to the Riviera’s spectacular landscapes!
With a magnificent coastline, hills with dream-like panoramas and the Alps just half an hour from the coast, hiking enthusiasts will be spoiled on the French Riviera, regardless of the season. 6 excursions for all: not to be missed!
1-The Chateau (Nice):
This walk leaves from Old Nice, at the tip of the Promenade des Anglais on the port side of Nice. It gradually mounts the hillside of “the Chateau” named after the old military fort (today in ruins) that protected the city in the days when Nice was an independent earldom. As you mount ever higher amongst the lush Mediterranean vegetation, you’ll discover the Baie des Anges in its enchanting immensity and sublime deep blue colour. To reward you for your effort, at the summit you’ll find an impressive waterfall, a fascinating archaeological site and some games for the kids.
2- Saint Jean Cap Ferrat: the coastal pathway.
What can you say about this route, if not that it is certainly one of the most beautiful in the world? Here is a hike you can make to measure, according to your own preferences or those of your family or friends: short (1/2 hour, 1 hour, or even 2 hours and a half if you do the full tour of the peninsula). It will thrill you in any season. It starts at the entrance to Cap Ferrat. To access it, just park and walk down to the path that borders the coast. Along the way, you’ll discover the village of Saint Jean, with its port, the views that never cease to amaze, the little beaches, the astonishingly wild shore of the Cape, and then the rose-coloured view of Villefranche sur Mer, with its famous harbour.
3- Cape of Antibes: the Sentier des Douaniers.
On one side: the view over Old Antibes, and behind the august silhouette of the Alps, the view towards Juan les Pins, Cannes and the Esterel mountain range. In between, natural beauty and the iridescent waves of the Mediterranean, the beaches with Provencal names, like la Gallice or la Garoupe, just perfect for lounging in the sun. At the very tip of the Cape, discover the appropriately named Baie des Milliardaires, and make a stop to visit the Villa Eileen Roc, surrounded by lush grounds. At the entrance to the Cape on the Juan les Pins side, you’ll be able to admire the Hotel Belles-Rives where the cherished American couple of the roaring twenties, Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, stayed.
4- The Fort de la Revère (la Turbie, above Eze)
In the lovely village of la Turbie, take a few moments to admire the Trophy of the Alps, the impressive Roman monument which overlooks Monaco and a lush landscape. The Trophy, which dates back to the Emperor Augustus, is worth the trip alone. But then, at the exit of the village, you can take the trail of la Simbola. It mounts steeply for roughly a quarter of an hour (plan on bringing your hiking shoes), and then…paradise awaits you: an easy stroll of about an hour above the hills, between the sea and the sky, which is sheer magic. Take advantage of the excursion to visit the medieval village of Eze, with its tiny alleyways and the historic Fragonard perfumery.
5- Cap d’Ail (coastal pathway).
Roughly 20 minutes from Nice, descend to the village of Cap d’Ail and park a bit further down. You will already be surprised by the incredible architectural heritage of the Cap d’Ail: houses from the Belle Epoque, each one more beautiful than the last, surrounded by idyllic gardens and overlooking a coastline in dazzling sunlight (villas of the Frères Lumière, the inventors of cinema, of Greta Garbo, etc.). Go on down to the beach of la Maala, an emerald jewel set between two cliffs, bathe in its transparent waters, and then follow the coastal path way until you get to … Monaco! Don’t forget to lunch at one of the restaurants on the beach, to sample the goatfish and Mediterranean catfish, grilled vegetables or niçoise salads…
Discover even more remarkable hikes on the French Riviera by reserving your holiday rental with Riviera Holiday Homes, specialist in seasonal rentals on the French Riviera: Nice and its surroundings.
The French Riviera, magnificent landscapes offering you unforgettable experiences!
